2018 Pizza Cup Recap: Beijing's 12 Best Pizzas, as Voted by You

After weeks of intense competition featuring high-stakes matches and surprise upsets, the 2018 Pizza Cup concluded with Gung Ho being crowned this year's champions. Our final top 12 is a varied bunch that speaks to the diverse nature of Beijing's pizza scene.

Of course, many of you wouldn't have been able to make up your minds about your favorite pizza without the 2018 Beijing Pizza Festival, our huge celebration of all things round and cheese-topped. Thousands of people headed to Zhongguancun on in October to sample the wares of more than 40 vendors; beers were poured, pizzas were flung, and we generally stuffed ourselves silly with every kind of cheesy, doughy, spicy, baozi-y, pepperoni-y, American-y, Italian-y, and Chinese-y pie known to man or beast.

We don't blame you if you don't have it in you to chomp your way through all 100 of Beijing's top pizzas but you can, at the very least, make the Top 12 a priority.

So, without further ado, below is your cut-out-and-keep, bookmark-in-your-browser, favorite-in-WeChat list of the top 12 pizza purveyors in Beijing.

12. Tube Station
At Tube Station, bigger is better. With this motto alone, the chain has become a Beijing staple, serving their oversized and indulgent pizzas from throughout the city. Although they dropped in the rankings this year (they placed fourth in 2017), Tube Station remains one of Beijing's oldest and most popular locally-owned pizzerias in Beijing and that long-running history has earned them a reputation that now translates into nostalgia, with their loyal and, for the most part, Chinese patrons now giving their children the opportunity to try their American-style pizza.

If you have not yet looked on in an amazement at a Tube Station delivery man trying to fit one of these mammoth pizzas through your door, well, winter cometh and there's no better time to do so (pro tip: these make great pizzas for a party). We recommend you do it right and order one of their “notorious” Garbage Pail (M: RMB 170, L: RMB 220) pizzas topped with pretty much any topping you can imagine.

11. Kro's Nest
Kro's Nest is another pizzeria known for serving pizzas with massive diameters (those who have been here long enough will likely remember that they are considered the originators of such in Beijing). At 12- to 28-inches, purportedly the biggest in Beijing, Kro's was the first pizzeria in Beijing to truly overload their pies with ingredients – like on the aptly named Kitchen Sink (S: RMB 95, M: RMB 189, L: RMB 235) or the Artery Clogger. Those of you who like the soft, wide, top-heavy crusts found in New York will enjoy what Kro's has in store for you.

Kro's Nest remains resolutely popular, as they themselves will tell you: "According to our sales data from last year, we were surprised to discover that one out of every 13 people from Beijing's 23 million population has eaten Kro’s Nest pizza." These factors helped the chain win our inaugural Pizza Cup back in 2011, and their consistently strong ranking shows that they've still got what it takes to duel it out with the best.

10. Pizza Saporita
Formerly known as Pizza+, Pizza Saporita sets itself apart from the crowd by selling pizza by the slice (or "al taglio" as the Italians say) – although their pizzas are also available whole. An all-Italian team oversees a menu that really does offer something for everyone, whether you like your pizza cheese-free, extra cheesy, topped with seafood or completely veggie (and that's just a selection of the combos on offer).

A consistent favorite on the Pizza Saporita menu is their signature Forest Pizza (slice: RMB 31, whole: RMB 108), which boasts an indulgent combination of mushroom, sausage, walnuts, and black truffle paste. We also have a soft spot for their sweet Nutella-stuffed pizza sandwich (slice: RMB 31, whole: RMB 108) – don't worry, there's no cheese on that one. 

9. Great Leap Brewing #45
Great Leap Brewing #45 at Xinyuanli is not only renowned for its delicious microbrews, but also for its 16-inch New York-style pizzas (or slices from 18-inch pizzas). Made using a specially imported US oven that provides them their crunchy sourdough crust, these moreish slices are home to a rich three-cheese melted blend and a great color that can only come from them going under the grill.

Great Leap does a great classic pepperoni but they also excel at tasty vegetarian pizzas such as The Shroom and The Green Machine (both RMB 120). Since the closure of Great Leap Brewing #12 earlier in 2018, diners can also enjoy Great Leap's famous burgers (consistently high-ranked in the Burger Cup) alongside their pizza.

8. Q Mex
Q Mex might not seem like an obvious place for pizza but just like their surprise high-ranking in the 2016 and 2017 Burger Cup, their tasty pizzas are also winning over Beijing hearts and stomachs, taking them from 17th last year to eighth place this year. 

Q Mex offers a range of pizzas on a choice of thin or thick crust (we tend to order the thin) that range from the ordinary – margherita – to the creative – and chorizo jambalaya – but where they really excel are the Mexican-inspired pizzas, such as the spicy nacho pizza (RMB 78), which comes topped with crispy tortilla strips. Coupled with a wide-ranging menu of strong drinks and regular promotions and events, Q Mex has earned a rightful place among Beijing's most popular pizza spots.

7. Eatalia
As the forebearers of pizza, Italians are certainly tough to top in any competition. This is especially true of Italian-run restaurant Eatalia, which has been serving customers in their Di'anmen location since 2012. Since then, Eatalia has consistently dished out authentic “pizza for purists,” as we wrote last year of Torcoli’s margherita, rustica, and prosciutto e funghi pies. A longtime Pizza Fest favorite in Beijing, Eatalia Carpe Diem went on to take third place in last year’s Pizza Cup.

Eatalia's authentic Italian cuisine is also bolstered by their incredible three-story traditional courtyard setting and the accompanying views of the center of Beijing, near the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park. A newbie to Eatalia? Grab their antipasto to begin, and then a rustica pizza, accompanied by one of their delicious rosemary spritzes.

6. Pie Squared
Last year's winner Pie Squared may have slipped down the ranking this year but it remains a favorite among in-the-know foodies. Since its founding just outside of Shunyi in 2013, the restaurant has been quietly building a dedicated following among nearby residents as well as others closer to the center of town. 

Those that are lucky enough to live close to Pie Squared praise owner Asher Gillespie's warm demeanor and his "taste of home" authentic Detroit-style pizzas. That pizza in itself is noteworthy for its square shape, a byproduct of spare industrial parts trays being used to bake the pizzas back in 1940s Detroit, according to the city's lore. First-timers may want to grab a Motown Meatball (S: RMB 55, XL: RMB 148) and then branch out to Pie Squared's specialty pizzas or experiment by creating their own topping combinations when you come back for more (which you most certainly will).

5. Annie's
With 18 years of practice under their belt, Annie's are tried and true Italian experts, serving pizza and pasta from a dozen locations scattered throughout the city. It doesn't hurt that Annie Lee and her team have built one of the most reliable food delivery services in the whole of China, making Annie's an easy go-to when hunger calls.

That delivery service brings hot-out-of-the-oven pizzas to your door in what sometimes seems like mere minutes. Their pizzas tend towards simple, classic combinations such as ham and mushrooms or four cheese, although we also rate their more creative options, such as the pizza leggera (S: RMB 65, L: RMB 75), which eschews mozzarella cheese in favor of rucola, marinated cherry tomatoes, Parma ham, and Parmesan cheese, Annie's are also constantly changing and improving what they do so as to introduce customers to Italian culture and its many flavors, so expect to see regular specials on their menu for both dine-in and delivery.

4. The Local
As this year's meteoric rise up the rankings attests, The Local is not just a popular American pub but also a great place to grab a bite to eat. The pizzas here are perfect to share with a bunch of friends, as is much of their other food, such as their stellar buffalo wings. The key to The Local's success also lies with their team, who owner Kenn Bermel succinctly describes as "talented folks who turn out the great food."

Looking for a great first pizza at The Local? Grab a Buffalo chicken and blue cheese pizza (12-inch: RMB 95). Bermel states, "This one is full of intense flavor – I’d caution anyone who hasn’t ever had authentic Buffalo chicken or doesn’t like the idea of chunks of Danish blue cheese." We're also partial to the steak pesto pizza (12-inch: RMB 108) and the fact that you can create your own pizza from scratch if you're dining with picky friends. Also, twelve-inch pizzas are half-price on Mondays from 4-10pm.

3. Bottega
Since opening in 2014, Bottega has proven itself a missing link in Beijing's burgeoning pizza scene. The Fratelli brothers' Neapolitan-style pizzas have quickly accrued a loyal fanbase thanks to a refined mix of family-tested favorites and a wood-fired pizza base that is nothing short of addictive. With two venues in Sanlitun's Nali Patio and further north in Xinyuanli, Bottega remains one of Beijing's best-loved pizzerias and it looks as if that recognition can only grow in the coming years.

When we asked the brothers, what they thought makes their pizza special, they put it down to the style (Neapolitan), the ingredients (100 percent imported Italian ingredients), the oven (a 3.3-tonne custom-built volcanic rock variety), the fermentation process (three-stages and 18-hours), and the chef (a third-generation pizza master who has been making pizza since the age of eight).

Bottega's pizza menu offers a lot of choice but you can't go wrong with the eponymous Bottega pizza (RMB 128), topped with anchovies, cherry tomatoes, and a great big sphere of organic burrata. We also like their more creative takes such as the star-shaped Stellata (RMB 138) and the folded Tronchetto (RMB 129). 

2. La Pizza
Now nine years old, La Pizza has maintained a strong and steady fanbase through use of imported ingredients, wood-fired pizzas, and authentic Italian toppings. Everything at La Pizza comes from Napoli: the owner, the oven, the chef, and the ingredients, including the flour, the peeled tomatoes, the mozzarella, and even the salt. This is process is expedited by the fact that they have their own supply network through their own trading company Mielefood Import & Export Ltd., the "only way to guarantee 100 percent of our ingredients are strictly monitored."

For starters, try their baci pizza, which means "kiss" in Italian, and comes in several variations, including meat, such as bacon, as well as veggie (RMB 88 per portion). The brand's signature pizza, the Pizza Pulcinella, topped with Prosciutto, Parmesan, ricotta, and cherry tomatoes, is likely to be your best bet for your first La Pizza experience, and the easiest way to taste the authentic flavors of Napoli. Now three venues deep, La Pizza has a strong showing throughout Beijing, helping them to build a dedicated fanbase.

1. Gung Ho
Opened by the brains behind Wudaokou stalwarts Lush and Pyro, Gung Ho started delivering pies with their eye-catching pink flags around Beijing in 2010. Eight years later, they have become the first ever brand to have won three times in the Pizza Cup's six-year history. Aside from speedy, well-organized online ordering and delivery, their beloved pies won over fans thanks to a great balance between traditional pizza and those with more modern twists.

In a recent interview the Beijinger conducted with Gung Ho owner Jade Gray, he had this to say about how the restaurant strives to keep customers coming back: “Every part of the experience is fresh. That includes the box, the decor, the playlist ... In Beijing, people really appreciate substance, they like to keep things simple, and really appreciate authentic experiences. You can’t bullshit Beijing people.”

That also means a focus on constant evolution and a menu that has scored big with vegans and even adherents of the keto, paleo, and gluten-free diets, releasing a few of the city's only pizzas to align with these strict dietary requirements and demonstrating that the team isn't shy when it comes to experimenting in the kitchen. Meat eaters, however, have long espoused Gung Ho's take on the Beijing-by-way-of-Xinjiang classic in the form of their mouthwatering lamb chuan'r pizza.

All in all, these factors make Gung Ho a worthy three-time champion of our Pizza Cup and reflects their ongoing motivation to provide an experience that is healthy, tasty, and guilt-free. That effort certainly hasn't been lost on you guys.

See how this year's best pizzas rack up compared to last year.

More stories by this author here.

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Images courtesy of the venues